Rig Idea! I smell awesomeness...

Okay boys and girls, I got a rig idea. Now I'll admit, I just got a Peavey 410TVX and Max 700, but I'm longing for that Ampeg sound. I'm justifying thinking about this with the argument that I'm going to college next year, and my huge, awkward 97 pound 410TVX is probably going to be staying at home as a backup. Here's my idea:

I'm thinking... I can run that Carvin bridged at 8 ohms into the B212 most of the time, that's 1000 watts and should be plenty, and for bigger shows I can pull out the B210 and then run 4 ohms bridged for 1500 watts. I play with a pick, most of the time punk and ska, and I love the B-2R's sound for it.

Your thoughts? My only complaint about the plan so far is that the rack will weigh around 65 pounds, and I dont like that. Maybe the DCM-1500 is overkill? Maybe DCM-1000 would be fine? That would take 10 pounds off i think. I don't know.

Are you getting an amp and you are going to play that through a power amp? Why not get a preamp, rather? Like the SVP-Pro or the SVP-BSP? Or the other SS types that imitate that Ampeg tone, like SansAmp RBI?

I think you'll be good with a 210 and a 112, and the DCM1000...
Two weeks ago I saw a band thats among the bigger ones here, and the bassist was playing and old Streamer (the pre-Stage I & II type NT) going through a GK Backline 350 - and thats just 175Ws!!!
At most mid-to-bigger shows, there will be PA support, you'll have the PA for the audience, on-stage monitors, etc, so you dont need all that much power

I would get a preamp, but Ampeg doesn't make any SS preamps *shakes fist* and I really didn't like the SVP-PRO, but I did like the B-2R.

Oh yeah, and where I come from, no venues have PA support. And by none, I mean none, not even one. None of the places around here are really venues, they're all like... bars that happen to have shows now and then, or places that bands rent to have a show in.

What does anyone else think? DCM-1000 enough for shows with no PA support?

Can i get the Sansamp RBI to sound like the B-2R though? I don't mean I just prefer SS sound in general, I mean I prefer SS Ampeg sound to the tube Ampeg sound. Because I'm crazy.

And by the way, I think it's 19 pounds B-2R, 24 pounds DCM1000, and 9 pounds for an SKB rack case, 52 pounds. That's 2 pounds less than my current head, Peavey Max 700. So I can definitely deal with that.

I would assume that you could. I like Ampeg's SS sound as well... but from pretty much everything I've heard, I could get a sound that I would probably like better out of an RBI.

You should think about 2 B212's instead of a B212 and a B210.

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eh.... I dont know about that. I guess it depends on your spacing and setup. If you could possibly "store" the B212 somewhere besides your dorm... then maybe you could just have the 210 in your dorm room. I would highy recommend that.

In fact... I'm a Senior in HS this year. I'm JUST getting a band put together right now... and I know I'm gonna be living in a dorm or at least an appartment within a year. My cabs are utterly monstrous (Ampeg BXTs)... and I plan on converting to Avatars when money rolls my way. I want a b212/b115h stack, and probably a b112 for the dorm room (with my B2R).

I liked how it sounded but the B2r wasn't able to fully drive my power amp. You could overcome that by adding a rack mount EQ. That's what I do now with my Sansamp ADI. I can use the output level on the EQ to boost the signal to the power amp.

I wouldn't say the ADI sounds like the B2r but I haven't tried to do that.

If you definately want the B2r sound then go for it. I would suggest giving the RBI a shot, it's more flexible and a lot lighter.

I've heard really great things about B212's and that the B210 doesnt go really low. Like B string low. If you dont play 5's then it wouldn't be a problem. If you used a B210 and B212 together then it probably then wouldn't be a problem. DO the B212's handle the Low B?

TheChariot: I'm in the exact same situation, senior in HS. I just like to think ahead. Or make up excuses to buy amps.

MuzikMan: What do you mean the B-2R couldn't fully drive your power amp? I'm new to the whole pre/power situation... I'm not sure what that means.

freshmeat: I plan to use either the B212 alone, or both together. I don't intend to be using the b210 alone really ever. However, depending on how it sounds, I might. I play 4 string, and I'm not really that into LOW lows. I like it bassy, but I'm more about punch than rumble.

McHack: I just don't like the sound of any of the Ampeg preamps. I was whining a while ago about how Ampeg doesn't make a SS preamp. If they did, I'd buy that. The RBI I'm considering though. Again, anyone, can I get it to sound like the B-2R? I have a thing for graphic EQ.... *is neurotic*

My brother is in college so I've been in his dorm room, I know what it's like. I feel like I'd probably be able to leave the rack and 210 out, and then just stash the b212 away somewhere. like in the closet or under the bed. Would it fit under a bed? If you sat it on its back? I'm sure I'd find a way.

Since I've gotten my RMX1450, I've used both my cabs to try and get a better sound. To do that, I mostly tinkered with the 9-band EQ on my B2R. I am quite happy with the ability to alter my sound with it. With that in mind.... I'm scared to let it go in favor of the RBI. But... after mingling with some great bass players on this site, I decided to flip the EQ off and see if I could get a similar sound to the one that pleased me through the graphic EQ. And whaddayaknow??..... I got something really really close to it. And that's with the B2R.

I wouldnt be scared to step away from it. Yeah... I guess its cool... but.... ya know.... screw it.